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Steve Cox pets and cuddles Ernie, his 10-year-old English bulldog, before leaving him at a shelter. He lost his home in California's devastating wildfires, and now they have to part.

"Don't you worry Ernie. I am not gonna let you down. We'll come back for you," Mr Cox whispers.

He has been staying at a hotel but it does not allow pets. For a week, Mr Cox tried to take care of Ernie in the back of his pickup truck.

But now, as he tries to get his life back on track, Mr Cox thinks Ernie would get better care at one of three animal shelters in northern California's Paradise area where the so-called Camp Fire has claimed at least 76 lives. More than 1,000 people are missing.

In this rural area, which had many horses, one shelter is for large animals.

There are two smaller shelters where helpers are taking care of dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, turtles and even swans.

Ernie is walking with a bit of trouble after an operation on an abscess in one of his front legs. Mr Cox says the dog is lazy, so he thinks Ernie will adapt quickly to the separation by sleeping a lot.

The main shelter was set up in the city of Chico's airport, near Paradise, where rescue and firefighting operations are based.

Animals saved by firefighters are dropped off there to be cared for.

One woman arrives in a desperate state, her hands trembling. She pulls out an envelope of photos of her cats and dogs.